Measured Data

Measured data can be any numerical value including integers (-5, 1, 3, 0, etc.) and fractions expressed as decimals (1.3, -0.43, -3.14159, 2.71828, etc.). Measured data is assumed to reflect a measurement (height, width, length, distance, weight, count, ratio, etc.) of a feature. OptiPath will try to order the artifacts according to the measures of their features (smallest to largest or vice versa) in creating a seriation.

The feature parameter Data can be used to specify that a feature should use measured data.

Measured data is usually associated with frequency seriation (where the data values represent the frequencies with which features appear for an artifact) and optimal path seriation (where values represent continuous or metric measurements of features).

Measured data is not appropriate for occurrence seriation or discrete seriation (where ranked data is more appropriate) nor for nominal seriation (where classed data is more appropriate).

Blanks in measured data are interpreted according to the Blanks feature parameter. Zeroes are interpreted according to the Zeroes feature parameter.

To see the effect on the raw data of setting various feature parameters, including the Data parameter, look at processed data in the Values table.